Host a Spotter’s Network Workshop

Here are the steps involved to Host a Spotters Workshop:

1. Workshop Checklist:

Contact ISCBC to register your workshop two weeks prior to the date and to order FREE giveaways and other valuable resources, including the necessary powerpoints and presentation notes for your own customization and use.

Locate and reserve a venue that will accommodate the anticipated number of participants

Notify your group of the date, time and location of the presentation. A reminder phone call may be needed

Laptop computer (Windows 97 or later)

Screen for PowerPoint presentation or a large white wall

Projector

Suggested items to bring along:

Extension cord

Laser pointer

Silk or pressed invasive plant samples (may be available from your regional coordinator)

Giveaways - any handouts/calendars etc. from your regional coordinator or from the ISC - Items can be ordered from the office.

2. Workshop Materials

When hosting a workshop you will choose from one of the five Spotter’s Network workshops available. All workshops are designed to teach basic invasive plant identification, management and reporting, and, with the exception of Invasive Plants 101, all are geared to specific audiences and topics. It is important to choose the workshop based on the interests of your primary audience.

All of the necessary hand-outs, resources, and presentation materials for each workshop are available by contacting the ISC head office.

3. Workshop Preparation

Submit a media release advertising your event if you have fewer than 15 workshop attendees. Click here for a Media Template.

Plan for the workshop to run approximately one hour depending on group size and length of discussions.

Locate and reserve a venue. Venue must be donated or paid for by your organization; ISC does not cover venue costs.

Call us at 1-888-933-3722 with any questions.

Contact your regional coordinator for: guidance around invasive plant species to target for the workshop.

4. Participant Packages

Fill out and print all Participant Handouts for the number of participants that you expect at your workshop. Don’t forget to include any other related material.

Ensure that participants fill out the Sign in Sheet. This information will be used to document the number of workshop participants and to track those individuals interested in becoming new “Spotters”.

Ensure that all participants, including workshop hosts, complete an Evaluation Form. These forms assist ISCBC in continuing to improve this workshop.

5. Presentation Preparation

Choose the presentation that suits your group needs and follow the steps below.

Invasive Plants 101

Agriculture and Range Invasive Plants

Aquatic Invasive Plants

Horticultural Invasive Plants

Aboriginal People and Invasive Plants

PowerPoint Presentation

Step 1. Select the package of documents for the presentations that are applicable to you from the list above. Ensure that you have contacted ISCBC to have the presentation powerpoints and supporting notes sent directly for your use and customization.

Step 2. Prepare your presentation in advance. Open the two PowerPoint presentations: (Module Name).ppt and (Module Name - Invasive Plants).ppt. For the Invasive Plants.ppt, there is one slide for each plant species, copy and paste your selected plant slides into the blank slides provided in the module PowerPoint presentation. NOTE: the Aquatic Invasive Plants presentation is complete as is and requires no alteration.

Step 3. Choose three regionally important invasive plant species from the invasive plants PowerPoint presentation. Your regional coordinator will be available to assist you with this. Choose two alert plant species. Your regional coordinator will be available to assist you with this. Copy and paste the plant slides into the respective module PowerPoint presentation.

Presentation Notes

Step 1. In advance of the event, print a copy of the module “Presentation Notes” and read through them while advancing the PowerPoint slide show.

Step 2. Open the “Invasive Plant Notes” document and use only the information for the plants you have selected. All plants are arranged alphabetically by their common name.

Step 3. Make sure that the plant slides that you have selected for the presentation and the plant notes respective to those slides are in the same order.

Step 4. Practice the entire presentation, complete with invasive plant notes, to become familiar with the information and to ensure that you have sufficient time to complete it.

Remember to save the new version of the Invasive Plants Presentation to your laptop.

Step 3. Consider announcing the success of your event and raising public awareness by submitting a media release! Don’t forget to include photos!

We appreciate any photos taken of your event that can be added to the collaborative online photo gallery and for use in outreach publications. Please send images to communications@bcinvasives.ca and specify who should receive photo credit. Thank you!

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